Loom.



PATENTBD SEPT. 22, 1903.

No. 739,651. I 3.. GROMPTON.

LDOM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1900.

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PATENTED SEPT. 22, i903.

R. GROMPTON.

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R. GROMP ON.

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No.739.651. BATENTED SEPT.22,1903[ LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1900. 150 MODEL. SHEETS-SHEET '7.

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UNITED STAT-(Es I rammed September 22, 1903;

PATENT Orrrcn.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,651, dated September 22, 1903. l Application filed April 28, ltlOO. $er1'al No. 14,739. (NomodelJ d To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RANDOLPH CROMPTON, of Worcester, county of Worcester, Stateof Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to that class of looms wherein fillingchanging mechanism is employed to supply fresh filling without stopping the loom,.and more particularly to such type of looms employing drop or shifting shuttle-boxes for supplying difierent characters or colors of filling.

It has heretofore been proposed in the class of looms employing shifting sh uttle-boxes on one side thereof to effect a change in the filling when that in an active shuttle has become substantially exhausted or broken, in which event mechanically-operated means were set inaction to eject the filling carrier or shuttle which had become practically exhausted or the filling of which had been broken and to I replace it by a filled carrier or shuttle at the single-box side of the loom. It has also been proposed in a single-shuttle-box loom, or one using only one character or color of filling, to employ devices to efiect a change of the filling when that in an active shuttle has approached exhaustion to a predetermined amount.

In my present invention I have sought to improve upon that type of looms wherein drop or shifting shuttle-boxes are employed at both sides thereof and to combine in such type of loom means whereby a fresh supply of filling maybe effected when that in any shuttle has approached exhaustion to a predetermined amount. In adapting such mechanism to the character of loom specified I have found it desirable to locate the fillingchanging mechanism at one side of the loom and the detecting or feeler mechanism at the opposite side thereof, both such mechanisms, however, being positioned adjacent to the shifting shuttle-boxes on its vrespective side,

bywhich I am enabled to secure more time from the instant of detectionof practical ex haustion of the filli ng and the, action of the filling-changing.,n1ecl1anis1n and consequent plan view of the parts shown by Fig. 2.

avoidance of shocks and imperfect operation due to quick action. 1

In the particular embodiment of myinvention as herein exemplified I have selected a form of worsted-loom having four celled shifting shuttle-boxes at each side thereof; but it is evident, of course, that the shifting shuttle-boxes may contain any desired number of cells, and while I have selected as an =woven the feeder is given a motion in unison with said boxes to always maintain the proper filling in position to be placed in its proper shuttle, and in case of a practical exhaustion of the filling in an active shuttle and upon the operation of the filling-changing mechanism to supply fresh filling the feeder is automatically moveda distance suflicient to bring into operative position a new group of fillingcarriers in a manner similar in general operation to that set forth in the patent to W'y- I man and Grompton, No. 600,053.

My invention comprehends, broadlygchang ing the fillingcarrier in looms having two sets of shuttle-boxes, however constructed, as thereby the facility of changing filling with out stopping the loom is carried out effectuallyin a class of loom for Weaving goods where a single pick of a desired coloror any uneven number of picks of a desired color can be obtained, which is of very material advantage and which makes the automatic loom," which is only recently adopted on single-shuttle weaving, capable of weaving the highest grades and most intricate patterns.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a loom embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view thereof, the central portion being broken away to avoid complication in the figure. Fig. 3 isa Fig.

4 is a side elevation'of the loom opposite that shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section, of the means for operating the feeder to bring a new group of carriers into operative position after a change of filling has been effected. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of said means on line 5 of Fig. 5, also showing the sprocket-wheel. Fig. 6 is a detail side view of the shuttle-box motion. Fig. 7 is an-edge view of the parts shown by Fig.

6. Fig. 8 is a detail front view of the drop boxes and guides therefor on the lay. Fig. 9 is a like detail of parts shown by Fig. 8 in plan view. Fig. 10 is a section on the line a: of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a top view of the shuttle-boxes on a smaller scale, showing the disposition and arrangement of the contacts with respect to the binders. Fig. 12 is a top view of one form of shuttle that may be employed.

Fig. 13 is a sectional detail on line yy of Fig. 11. Fig. 14. is a sectional detail View of the feeder-operating gearing.

The loom-frame A, breast-beam A, pickersticks A lay A driven from the crank-shaft B by the pitmau A the cam-shaft B, the gears B B connecting the crank and cam shafts, the filling-feeder B and the transferrer B pivoted at B are and may be all as heretofore employedas, for instance, in the construction disclosed by Patent No. 600,053, to which reference may be had. Pivotally connected to the loom-frame at b, Fig. 4:, is a lever 17, which carries at one end a pin or roller b bearing on the surface of a cam B secured to the cam-shaft B, and at its opposite end has pivoted thereto at b an actuator b, which is thus under normal running conditions of the loom reciprocated in a path beyond the end of the arm b secured to the shaft d, journaled in suitable bearings attached to the loom-frame. Mounted upon a bracket b secured to the loom-frame on the side thereof adjacent the actuator b, is an electromagnet 12 whose armature b is normally spring-pressed away from the magnet and carries at its free end an arm b, which loosely embraces the upper end of the actuator b, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 4. Secured to the opposite end of the shaft d, which extends across the loom-frame, preferably below the breast-beam A, is a litter d, carrying a pin d which extends beneath adagger d pivoted at d to the end of the arm d secured to or formed as a continuation of the transferrer B Mounted on a moving part of the loom, preferably the lay A, is a bunter d, which in the forward movement of the lay travels in a path above the end of the dagger d; but should said dagger be raised by the pin d on the end of the lifter d the hunter will strike the dagger. From this construction it will be seen that should the electromagnet be energized it will attract its armature b and move the end b of the actuatorinto position to engage the free end of the arm 19 on its upward reciprocation to thereby turn the shaft d and cause the lifter d toraise-the dagger d into the path of the hunter (1 and cause the transferrer B to be operatedto efiect a change of filling on the forward movement of the lay.

Secured to the shuttle-box guide I on the side of the loom opposite the filling-changing mechanism are a pair of contact-plates or electric terminals 0 c, Fig. 2, properly insulated from each other and the loom-frame in any suitable manner and in circuit with the electromagnet b by the wires or other conductors 0 0 which derive electric energy from any suitable source of electric supply, as the battery P, Fig. 3. g

It will be noted that while there are four or more cells in the set of drop-boxes only a single pair of contact-plates or terminals 0 c are employed, and these are shown as arranged on the said shuttle-box guide Ion a line with the race or in position to cooperate with the detecting mechanism of the active shuttle for the time being, which will now be described. Each cell of the shuttlebox on the detecting or right-hand side of the loom, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a binder o pivoted at c and acted on by any usual form of binder-spring 0 Fig. 11. Secured to each binder c are a pair of contactfingers c, the ends 0 of which project be yond the end of. the shuttle-box in position to contact with the plates 0 c on the shuttlebox guide I. At their opposite ends these contact-fingers, as shown by Fig. 13, project through the binders 0 from which they are insulated by suitable insulating material 0 and are provided on the inside of the binders with conducting-plates 0 adapted to contact with suitable contact-plates 0 0 on the shuttles C, Fig. 12. Each shuttle is provided with a pair of detectors 0 in electric connection with the plates 0 0 and the filling-carriers are each provided with a conductor or other ring 0 which in the filled carrieris covered by the yarn or filling. From this construction it will be evident that so long as the carrier in an active shuttle is provided with a proper amount of filling the electric circuit through the shuttle will remain interrupted; but should the filling on a carrier in an active shuttle become sufficiently exhausted to expose the conductor or ring 0 then the circuit will be completed through the shuttle and an electric current established through the contact-plates c 0, wires 0 c and electromagnet to thereby energize the latter to place the actuator b in position to-move the arm 6 to effect a change of filling. Inasmuch, however, as the indieating-shuttle if it remains in action is picked to the opposite side of the loom on the next backward movement of the lay, and therefore the circuit is broken, it is necessary to provide some means to hold the actuator in engagement with the arm b', to thereby raise the same and consequently the dagger to be struck by the hunter on the next beat up to acter or colors of filling.

effect a change of filling, and this is done by} providing the arm I)? with a downturned end I), which as the indicating-shuttle is about to be picked from the indicating-box engages the upper end 11 of the actuator and retains the two in operative engagement. Sho uld the, drop-boxes containing a practically exhausted shuttle be changed, however, so as to take the indicating-shuttle. out of the line of the race, and therefore out of position to be picked to the changing side of the loom, such changing movement of the drop-boxes taking place between the picks, the boxes receiving, preferably, about one-half their movement in the forward movement of the lay, the remaining movement of the boxes taking place during the backward movement of the lay, will carry the contact-fingers c c away from the contact-plates c c and interrupt the circuit, the relative movement of the actuator and dropboxes being such that the latter will disengage the contact-fingers c from the plates 0 0 just prior to the upward reciprocation of the actuator; but the boxes at the filling-changing end of the lay will not be started and moved in unison with those at the detecting end of the lay, but rather the boxes at the filling-changing end of the lay will remain stationary as to their vertical movement during the forward movement of the lay, they being shifted at a faster speed during the backward movement of the lay, thus affording plenty of time to break the electric current, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Mounted on each end of the lay are the drop-boxes E E', comprising any convenient number of cells to supply the desired char- The boxes are car-' ried on any usual box-rods, as E by which the boxes are raised and lowered under the call of a pattern and through mechanism of any desired character to impart the motions.

, hereinafter described. Drop-boxes rise and fall during the interval between the picks, about onehalf the'movement taking place during the forward movement of the lay, and while this character and timing of motion is unobjectionable on the detecting side of the lay I have found it necessary to modify the same on the filling-changing side in order to correctly position the shuttle-box" toefiect the change offilling as the lay approaches its forward position, and to this end I have provided mechanism which, while imparting the usualmovement of thedrop-boxes on the, detecting side of the lay, as above indicated, will hold the boxes on the filling-changing side of the lay stationary as to their shifting, movement duringthe beat up, then shift them rapidlyon the backward movement of the lay. To efiect the character of moyements described, lhave selected for the present em bodiment of my invention the form of shuttlebox motion fully set forth in the patent to Crompton and Wyman, reissued January 1,

1884, No. 10,433, to which referencem ayibe had, although the invention is not necessarily limited thereto.

The main levers E pivoted at E and con-' nected to the shuttle-box rod E at E and the shuttle-box rod on the opposite side of the loom through the flexible connections e,

'mutilated cylinder-gears E driven from the gear E by the well-known Geneva stopmovement and with which the vibrator-gears E are adapted to engage underthe call of the pattern-surface, are and may be all as fully disclosed in the said Reissue Patent No.

10,433 referred to and need not be further described.

The vibrator-catch E pivoted at E and adapted to be moved into positionto engage between the beveled ends E of the raised and lowered vibrators by the rod E having.

the slotted end E embracing and guided by the projecting end-of the cam-shaft B, carryin United States Patent No. 405,645. The

motion thusimparted to the'drop-boxes by the mechanism as described would be a risingand-falling movement between the picks and during the forward movement of the lay, as

disclosed in the patents referred to; but, as has been pointed out, such movement for the.

drop-boxes on the filling-changing side of the lay would serve to improperly position the boxes with relation to the filling-changing mechanism, whereby the drop-boxes on the fillingchanging side ofvthe lay are givena quick rising-and-falling movement only on the back strokeof the lay, as I will now describe.

Having reference more particularly to Figs. ,6 and 7, the cylinder-gears, E for operating the drop-boxes on the detecting side of t he lay are mounted loosely on studs e and said by the usual double acting gear E fast on shaft 13,, driven in usual manner. Thegear e engages intermediate gears e and efof usual form and rotate the gear c and its attached cylinder-gearE. The cylinder-gears .ing the cam E against which the roller E bears under. the stress oi the spring E are and may be all as heretofore and as described gears have secured to them gears 6 e The gear 6 is engaged and driven intermittingly E have mounted alongside of ,them loosely on the studs eiiindependent cylinder-gears.

E having attached gears c? with one tooth omitted.

I (See Fig.6.) Suitably journaled; in bearings, preferably above and below the cylinder-gears E and E are the idle-shafts 6 e each having secured to one end thereof 'a gear 6 and at the opposite end a gear 6 from one-half of whose surface the teeth are omitted. The gears 6 e e c and e are preferably of the same size, while the gears e are double the size of the gears a, with which they inter-mesh on each full rotation. The gears e and c rotate the gearse in opposite directions and turn with them the shafts e suitably supported by brackets connected with the framework, rotating with said shafts the connected gears e, the latter having teeth extended about half-way around. The gears e are the drivers for the independent cylinder-gears E From this construction it will be obvious that the rotation of the cylinder-gears E as derived from the gear E will be as usual and the vibrator-gears E engaged thereby and operatively connected with the drop-boxes on the detecting side of the loom will be moved with the usual slow motion between the picks and as the lay moves forward. During such movementof the cylinder-gears E the independent cylinder-gears E will remain stationary until the gears e are, through the gears e, moved about a half-revolution, when the teeth of gears e will engage the gears e and owing to their size will rotate said gears e and their connected cylinder-gears E rapidly during the other half of the rotation of the gear 6 at which time the lay is moving backwardly.

The vibrator-gears E for moving the dropboxes on the detecting side of the loom are arranged to engage the cylinder-gears E while the vibrator-gears E for operating the drop-boxes on the filling-changing side are arranged to be engaged with the gears E from which it will be seen that as the lay starts forward the cylinder-gears E through the usual operating devices will, if any of the vibrator-gears be in mesh there- With,-commence to move the drop-boxes on the detecting side of the loom; but as at thistime the cylinder-gears E are stationary by reason of the omitted teeth in the gear 6 the drop-boxes on the 'fillingchanging side of the loom will not be raised or lowered. the lay starts back, however, the teeth of gears e engage the gears e and rapidly rotate the connected cylinder-gears to thereby impart rapid rotation to any vibrator-gear in mesh therewith and consequent rapid movement of the drop-boxes on the filling-changing side of the lay.

In order that the gears 6 may be held in the position they assume as the blank portions of the gears e are passing, I provide on the idle shafts e e the concave blocks e of usual construction in such cases, which bear frictionally upon corresponding-shaped bosses on the hubs of the gears e to thereby insure that the teeth of the gears a shall be in position to be engaged by the teeth of the gears e The filling feeder or hopper B, as heretochain g 'igesi fore explained, is provided-with the filling carriers d arranged in groups corresponding to the characters or colors of filling in the.

shuttle-boxes, as fully set forth in United States Patent to Wyman and-Crompton, No. 600,053, and the necessary movements to maintain said feeder in position to present a proper character or color of filled carrier to replace that in a practically-exhausted shuttle during the rise and fall of the drop-boxes and to move said. feederso as to present a new group of filled carriers in position to be acted on by the transferrer after a change of carriers has taken place is as follows: Mounted in suitable bearings formed in a bracket f, secured to the loom-frame and so as to have free rotative movement therein, is a short shaft f, having fixed thereto a sprocket Wheel f an'd a bevel-gearf Fig. 14. Loosely carried by the shaftf is a pinion f which .is in engagement with apinion f carried by a stud f Fig. 1, on the bracket fand interposed between the pinion f and a similar pinion'j, secured to the feederor hopper B Also loosely mounted on the shaft f and located, preferably, between the pinion f and sprocket-wheel f is a pinion f having a beveled-gear face f which engages with the teeth ofa bevel-gear f carried on a stud or screw-pin f, secured to a flange or bracket f on the side of pinion f*, the periphery of the bevel-gearf being carried through a suitable opening f in the pinion f and its teeth also engaging the teeth of the bevel-gear f The peripheral teeth f of the gear f are in engagement with the'teeth f of a rackbar f which at its lower end, as in Fig. 1, is connected to the main shuttle-box lever E Rotatively mounted on a stud g, secured to the loom-frame, is a sprocket-wheel g, and connecting said sprocket-Wheel g and the sprocket-wheel on the shaft f is a sprocket- Mounted on or secured to the hub of the sprocket-wheel g is a pinion 9 having one or more teeth in its periphery omitted, Figs. 5 and 5, and pivotally mounted on the face of said pinion by the stud g is a yoke 9 the arms of which carry the teeth g, said arms being adapted to swing in a plane substantially at right angles to the face of the pinion on the stud g to project first one and then the other of the teeth 9 into the space g of the omitted teeth of the pinion, a catch 9 carried on an arm 9 pivoted to the face of the pinion at 9 and actuated toward the arm 9 of the yoke by a spring g, serving to hold the yoke by engaging one or the other side of said yoke in either of its positions toward or away from the face of the pinion and yet permit said yoke to be swung on its stud g under the impulse of an arm connected to the yoke, as at 9 The said arm 9 is carried by a sleeve 9 supported by a stud secured to the loom-frame, and said sleeve has a projecting crank-arm g .to which a rod g is connected, the opposite end of said rod 9 being secured to the tailpiece 9 fixed to IIO or movable with the transferrer B as seen in Fig. 1. Mounted to freely rotate on the stud h is a pinion h, Fig. 5, which is in mesh with a pinion 729, secured to the crank-shaft B, and preferably secured to the face of the pinion h is a smaller pinion h, a portion of the teeth of which, as at 71 are omitted. These pinions are so located and timed in their movements as that when the lay moves forward and a change of filling is taking place the teeth of the pinion k are in position to engage with the tooth g of the yoke g which tooth by the movement of the transferrer, the rod 9", and connected parts has been moved into the space of, the omitted teeth in the pinion 9 From the mechanism as thus described it will be seen that so long as .the transferrer is not actuated to efiect a change of filling the pinion g sprocket-wheel g, sprocket chain g and consequently the sprocket-wheel f fast on the sh'aftf, will remain stationary. Under these conditions should the drop-boxes on the filling-changing side of the loom rise or fall under the call of the pattern and by virtue of the shuttle-box motion, as already explained, they will cause a corresponding movement of the rack-bar f which being in engagement with the teeth f of the loose gear f will rotate said gear on the shaft f, and such motion will be transmittedto the pinion f and consequently to the filling feeder, to rotate it the proper amount corresponding to the movement of the drop-boxes through the bevel-pinion f carried by the pinion f and meshing with the then stationary bevel-pinion f on the shaft f. If, however, the detecting mechanism on the opposite side of the loom has indicated a practically exhausted condition of an active shuttle and said shuttle remains in action to be returned to the filling-changing side of the loom on the next pick, the dagger will be raised, as heretofore explained, to be struck of filling.

by the bu nter when the shuttle has reached the filling-changing side of the loom, the drop-boxes on that side will not be raised or lowered as the lay moves forward, and the transferrer will be actuated to efiect a change The movement of the transferrer will through the rod g and connected yoke g move a tooth g of the yoke to fillthe blank space in the pinion g andc'ause the same and connected sprocket-Wheel g to be rotated by the pinion 3L and through the sprocketchain g to rotate the shaft f. The gearf being held stationary at this time by the rack-bar f the bevelgear f will act upon the bevel-gear f to turn the pinion f, and consequently the filling-feeder, the requisite distance to bring into position another group of filling-carriers, as will be obvious.

In order to hold the rack-bar f in position of engagement with the gear f there is secured to the loom-frame a light bracket is, carrying a roller 7c, upon which the; smoothedge of the rack-bar may move.

- In the present form of rnyinvention Ihave shown the fillingscarriers as adapted to be changed in the shuttle on practical exhaustion of the filling, a form of shuttle and car-. rier being represented in Fig. 12, wherein the filling-carrier 1} is shown as retained within the shuttle by the spring-arms if, and I have also constructed and adapted the parts of the filling-changing mechanism to eject the practically exhausted carrier from the rear of the box and insert a filled carrier from the front thereof. In this form of construction and adaptation of parts I have found it preferable to dispense with the separate binders for each of the shuttle-boxes on the filling-changing side of the loom and to employ a single binder substantially on the line of the race to act upon any one of the boxes of the series as they rise or fall to position to receive the active shuttle.

Referring to Figs. 8, 9, and 10, the dropboxes on. the filling-changing side of the loom are designated. generally by the referenceletter E, and they consist, essentially, of aseries of shelves or platforms to form cells '5 for the reception of the series of shuttles, said cells being open at front and rear for the passage therethrough of filling-carriers. Each cell has at its rear edge a suitable flange 11 to properly bear against the shuttles and retain them from falling backward from the boxes as the lay moves. The drop-boxes on both sides of the loom rise and fall under the control of the boxmotion, as heretofore explained, and are guided insuch movement by suitable guideways 2' 2, formed in the box stands or brackets I, carried by the lay. Suitably hinged to the outer bracket I on the filling-changing side of the loom, Fig. v f

8, as at 11 i is a binder 11, having a slot 2' ILO therein, as shown, and upon the free end of said binder a spring '6 bears to give the necessary binding action on the shuttles as they enter and leave the box. It will be noted that the binder i is hinged to the box stand or bracket and does notnnove up and down with the shuttle-boxes; but as each successive box arrives on the line of therace itis then in position to receive the retarding effect of the binder on the then active shuttle. To prevent the shuttles falling forward out of the boxes as the lay moves back, Iprovide guides i and d which are secured by appropriate screws i to brackets 13 attached to or formed as a part of the box stands or brackets I. These guides i and i1 9 preferably pass through the series of boxes and present a flange 1' behind which thenose of the shuttle rests when its box is not on a line with the race. Since the guides i and 4? pass through the shuttle-boxes and would as a con sequence be in the path of movement of the active shuttle if continued through the entire series, the said guides are interrupted at the line of the race, as shown at t, to permit the free entrance and exit .of the active shuttle,

and the adjoining ends r1 il of the guides are provide a positioning device for the shuttle as the boxes rise or fall in case the shuttle has not been properly boxed. If desired, the same form of guides may be employed at the other end of the drop-boxes; but in the present instance I have shown guides at this end of the boxes as simple guide-strips ifi'secured to the box-stand I, and behind which the nose of the shuttle rests, as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9. It is obvious, of course, that the form of guides may be varied as desired without departing from the spirit of my invention. Since the dropboxes rise and fall past the binder 2", I have provided the boxes with a guide-strip L, on which the free end of the binder v1 rests, said strip being provided with raising-camsl,which serve to release the binder from its contact with the shuttle as the boxes are raised and lowered, thus permitting a more free action and movement between the parts during the shifting of the shuttle-boxes. The opening 2' in the binder i serves as a passage through which the filling-carriers are passed as the transferrer effects the change, and the edges of the opening 2' are preferably beveled or rounded, as at i", to obviate any sharp angles or edges to the filled carrier as it is pushed into the shuttle.

The picker M is arranged to slide on double picking-rods m m, located, preferably, above and below the position occupied by the active shuttle in the box-cell, such position of the shuttle in which the filling is to be changed enabling the ejected carrier to be pushed through the open rear side of the cell on the shuttle-box. The pickers may be provided with any usual or desired form of buffer-spring m and have a perforation m therein for the entrance of the end of'the pickerstaves A It Will be noticed from the construction described that the shuttle-boxes at the detecting-side of the loom are each provided with a binder, and each binder has, as shown, two connected insulated contact-fingers, which as the boxes rise and fall move over contactplates 0 c in electric circuit with the magnet If. These contact-plates are fixed to the boxguideway I in position to codperate, with only the fingers of the binder cooperating with the active shuttle, so said fingers will not be joined in complete circuit except when an active shuttle has become exhausted to a predetermined amount.

I believe that I am the first to supply different fillings to a plurality of shuttle-boxes directly from a filling-supply, and I desire to claim this feature broadly however carried out.

Instead of providing the binder with a throat I may provide means for lowering or raising the binder when a filling-carrier is to be put in the shuttle-box.

Instead of giving to the boxes at the fillingchanging end ofthe loom a quick rise andfall, as stated above, to insure the proper poproper shed.

sitions of the shuttle-box to receive another filling-carrier I may, when the detector indicates for a change of filling and after the shuttle which has caused the indications has been thrown through the shed to the magazine end of the lay, disconnect the pickingmotion and prevent any shift of shuttle-boxes on the next forWard-and-backward stroke of the lay and at the sametime disconnect the box-motion and stop the harness-chain, so that on the next backward stroke of the lay the same shed as the previous one will be formed, I thereby holding in reserve the Now by allowing the box-m0- tions to shift the boxes during the next backward motion of the lay after replenishment of filling should the box-pattern call for a different shuttle than the one previously thrown and just replenished with filling and by allowing on the next backward stroke of the lay after replenishment of filling the shedmotion to form the shed held in reserve the picking-motion may then be put into action and throw the shuttle in the line of the raceway when the lay reaches on its backward stroke the proper picking position. The shed and box motions are stopped by stopping the chains and are started by restarting the same. The indications for these three motions are made simultaneously; but the motions themselves act independently as timed in looms of ordinary construction of this class.

\Vhile I have shown and described the electric circuit, contact-plates, and cooperating parts for calling the filling-changing mechanism into operation to effect a change of filling, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited thereto; but any appropriate device,eitherelectrical or mechanical, may be employed for thispurpose.

When in the specification and claims reference is made to a filling-changing mechanism or a change of filling, it is to be understood that I mean either devices to etfect a change of filling-carrier in the shuttle or devices that change the shuttles.

It is obvious that filling stop-motions such as commonly in use on all looms having shuttle-boxes at both ends of the lay may be utilized to set the filling-changing mechanism, and by the term practical exhaustion, as used herein, I include also complete exhaustion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

' 1. In amloom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, shifting shuttle-boxes at each end thereof, a filling-changing mechanism and provisions for rendering the filling-changing mechanism operative to efiect a change of filling on the practical exhaustion of the filling in any of the shuttles.

2. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, shifting shuttle-boxes at each end thereof, a filling-changing mechanism adjacent the shuttle-boxes at one end of the devices movable to operate lay and provisions adjacent the shuttle-boxesat the opposite end of the lay for rendering the filling-changing mechanism operative to efiect a change of filling when that in any shuttle has become practically exhausted to a predetermined amount.

3. In a loom, the followinginstrumentalities, viz: a lay, shifting shuttle-boxes at each end thereof, a filling-changing mechanism adjacent the shifting shuttle-boxes at one end -of the lay, a filling-detector, and means operative through the detector on practical ex--. hanstion of the filling in an active shuttle to' effect a change of filling.

4. In a. loom, the following instrumentalities, Viz: a lay, shifting shuttle-boxes, a filling changing mechanism adjacent to the shuttle-boxes at one end of the lay, an elec tric circuit including an electromagnet, means under control of the electromagnet for rendering the filling-changing mechanism operative to effect a change offilling, and devices for completing the circuit and energizing the magnet on the practical exhaustion of, the filling in any of the shuttles.

-5. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, shifting shuttle-boxes at each end thereof, a filling-changing mechanism adjacent the shifting shuttle-boxes at one end ofthe lay, an electric circuit including an eleciromagnet, electric terminals or contactplates, means for completing the circuit through said terminals on the exhaustion of the filling in a shuttle to a predetermined amount, and devices under control of the electro magnet for rendering the filling-chap ging mechanism operative to efiect a change of filling.

6. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, shifting shuttleboxes at each end thereof, a filling-changing mechanism adjacent the shuttle-boxes at one end of the lay, an electric circuit including an electromagnet, electric terminals adjacent the shuttleboxes at the otherend of the lay, contact-fingers carried by the last-named boxes and adapted to complete the circuit on the exhanstion of the filling in an active shuttle to a predetermined amount, and means under. control of the said magnet to renderthe fillingchanging mechanism operative to effect a. change of filling.

7. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: -a lay, a set of shuttle-boxes carried at one end thereof, a magazine adjacent said boxes, an electric detecting device at the opposite end of the layfrom the magazine, and

the filling-changing mechanism.

S. In a loom, the following instrumentalities',viz: alay, aset of shifting shuttle-boxes carried thereby, a filling-changing mechanism adjacent said boxes, and devices to eifect. a change offilling in the active box of the set of shuttle-boxes when the filling in the active shuttle has become substantially exhausted.

i '9. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay a set of shifting shuttle-boxes carried thereby, a filling-changing mechanism adjacent said shifting shuttle-boxes, means to shift said boxes and to position them for a change of filling, and devices to effect a change of filling in the active box of the set of shifting shuttle-boxes when the filling in an activev shuttle has become practically exhausted.

10. In a loom, the followinginstrumentalities, viz: a lay, a set of shifting shuttle-boxes carried thereby, a filling-changing mechanism, adjacent said shifting shuttle-boxes, means to shift said boxes on the backward movement of the lay and to maintain them in position for a change of filling on forward movement thereof, and means to render the filling-changing mechanism operative to effect a change of filling when that in an active shuttle has become practically exhausted.

11. In a loom, the following instru mentaliiies, viz: a lay, shifting shuttle-boxes at each end thereof, a. filling-changing mechanism adjacent the shifting shuttle-boxes at one end of the lay, means for indicating a practical exhaustion of filling in the shifting shuttleboxes atthe opposite end of thelay, and devices to effect a change of filling in the active box of the shuttle-boxes on the filling-changing end of the lay, when the filling in an active shuttle has become practically exhausted.

12. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, a set of shifting shuttle-boxes at each end thereof, means for raising or lowering one set of said boxes between the picks and for raising or lowering the other set on the backward movement of the lay, filling changing mechanism adjacent the last-named set of boxes, and means to operate the said mechanism to efiect a change of filling.

13. In a loom, the following instrumentali ties, viz: a lay, a set of shifting shuttle-boxes carried thereby,means for shifting said boxes, a filling-feeder adjacent said boxes, connections between the said means and the fillingfeeder to move the latter in unison with the shuttle-boxes, and devices rendered operative on the practical exhaustion of the filling in an active shuttle to eifect a change of filling.

14. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, a set of shifting shuttle-boxes.

carried thereby, a filling-feeder adjacent said shuttle-boxes, a transferrer to transfer a sup ply of filling from the feeder into a box of-the set of shifting shuttle-boxes, and means to operate the transferrer on the practical ex- I haustion of the filling in an active shuttle.

15. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, a set of shifting shuttle-boxes carried thereby, a filling s feeder carrying groups of filling-supplies adjacent said shifting shuttle-boxes, means to transfer a supply of filling from the feeder into a cell of the set of shifting shuttle-boxes, and devices made operative on movement imparted by the transference of filling to cause the filling-feeder to bring a different group of filling-supplies in position for the subsequent action.

16. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, a set of shifting shuttle-boxes carried thereby, a filling feeder carrying groups of filling-supplies adjacent said boxes, means for shifting said boxes, connections between said means and filling-feeder to move the same in unison with the boxes, means to supply filling to the sh little-box, and devices made operative by the transference of filling to cause the filling-feeder to bring a different group of filling-supplies into position for a subsequent transfer of filling.

17. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, a set of shifting shuttle-boxes at each end thereof, a filling-changing mechanism adjacent the shift-ing shuttle-boxes at one end of the lay, a pair of contact-plates or terminals adjacent the shuttle-boxes at the other end of the lay, contact-fingers carried by each box of the last-named set of shuttleboxes adapted to engage the said contactplates or terminals as each box moves into the line of the race, an electric circuit, means under the control thereof for operating the filling-changing mechanism, and a detector to complete the circuit when the filling in a shuttle in use has become practically exhausted.

18. In a loom, the following instrumentalitics, viz: a lay, a set of shifting shuttle-boxes carried at each end thereof, a filling-changing mechanism adjacent the shuttle-boxes at one end of the lay, means adjacent the opposite end of the lay operative on practical exhaustion of the filling in an active shuttle to actuate the filling-changing mechanism and efiect a change of filling when the shuttle has reached the filling-changing end of the lay.

19. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, a set of shifting shuttle-boxes at each end thereof, a filling-changing mechanism adjacent the shuttle-boxes at one end 1 of the lay, an electric circuit including an electromagnetand contact-plates orterminals adjacent the shuttle-boxes at the opposite end of the lay, contact-fingers carried by each box of the last-named set of boxes adapted to contact with said plates or terminals and complete the circuit through an active shuttle when the filling thereof is practically exhausted, and means under control of the electromagnet to render the filling-changing mechanism operative to effect a change of fillingwhen the practically exhausted shuttle has reached the changing end of the lay.

20. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a filling-feeder, carriers arranged therein in groups, means to transfer the same, and means also to actuate said feeder for a distance equal to the distance apart of like fillings in the different groups, and devices for rendering the said means operative by the transference of filling.

21. In a 100m, the followinginstrumentalities, viz: a filling-feeder, carriers arranged therein in groups, a transferrer, a pinion carrying a yoke, connections between the pinion and filling-feeder, said yoke being connected to the transferrer, and means to turn said pinion on movement of the yoke by the transferrer during the change of filling.

22. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, a set of shifting shuttle-boxes carried thereby, a filling-changing mechanism adjacent said boxes, a single binder for said shuttle-boxes, and means to operate the filling-changing mechanism to effect a change of filling when that in any shuttle has become practically exhausted.

23. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, a set of shifting shuttle-boxes carried thereby, a single binder made rigid in the line of the raceway, and means to raise and lower the boxes past the binder.

24. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, a set of shifting shuttle-boxes carried thereby, a single slotted binder stationary in the line of the raceway, means to shift the boxes behind the binder, and devices for passing a filling-carrier through the slot of the binder.

25. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, a set of drop-boxes carried thereby, a single binder made rigid in line of the raceway, and means to operate said binder to lift it from contact with the shuttles at the proper times.

26. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay, a set of drop-boxes open at the front and rear for the reception and discharge of filling, fixed guides passed through the boxes in position to retain the shuttles therein, and means for raising and lowering the boxes.

27. In a loom, a lay having a series of shifting shuttle-boxes at each end thereof, electric detecting-means occupying a position substantially in line with the raceway of the lay, said detecting means cooperating with the shuttle in either cell of the shuttle-box, Whichever cell is in operative position at the raceway.

28. In a loom, a lay, a shifting shuttle-box at the detecting end of the lay, a plurality of binders carried by said shuttle-box, contactfingers carried by said binders, contact-plates or terminals sustained by the lay and located at substantially the level of the raceway of the lay, and means to move said shuttle-boxes and put one or the other of its cells at the level of the raceway of the lay, the contactfingers of each of said binders meeting successively the contact-plates or terminals of the lay to effect a change of fillingwhen the filling in the shuttle to be thrown has been practically exhausted.

29. In a loom, a shifting shuttle-box having a series of cells open at front and rear, a binder cooperating with one or the other cell of the shuttle-box, and means to retain in their cells the shuttles not acted upon by said binder.

30. In a loom, a shuttle-box having cells open at front and rear, a binder having an opening of a size to permit the passage of a filling-carrier through the same, and a transferrer operative when the shuttle in the shuttie-box is practically exhausted.

31. In a loom, a shuttle-box having unobstructed opposite portions,a lay provided with picker-guiding rods, separated one from the other sufficiently to enable the passage between them of a filling-carrier ejected from the shuttle-box.

32. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle-box open at both sides for the passage of a filling-carrier, and picker-guiding rods separated one from the other sufficiently to enable the passage between them of a filling-carrier ejected from the shuttle-box.

33. In a loom, a lay havinga shifting shuttle-box open at front and back, a cooperating binder having an opening for the passage of filling therethrongh, and picker-guiding rods separated one from the other snfliciently to enable the passage between them of a fillingcarrier ejected from the shuttle-box.

34. In a loom, a lay, a shifting shuttle-box having a series of cells open at back and front, picker-guiding rods, a binder having a passage therethrongh for a filling-carrier, and a transferrer to feed filling through said binder into a shuttle in a cell of said shuttlebox and to discharge the exhausted fillingcarrier from the shuttle in the shuttle-box and through the space between said rods.

35. In a loom, alay having shifting shuttleboxes at both ends, the boxes at one end of the lay having a binder for each cell, aseries of shuttles open front and back, the shuttleboxes at the opposite end of the lay havinga single binder engaging one after another the difierent shuttles inserted in its box when brought into the line of the race of the lay.

36. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: a lay having a set of shifting shuttle-boxes at each end, means to shift said shuttle -boxes according to the pattern being woven, means to indicate that filling in a shuttle-box has been practically exhausted, and means to bring theboxes to the front center stationary, where, at a preceding beat, an indication was made that filling must be changed, and means to change the filling at a beat of the lay following the beat in which the indication was made.

37. In a loom, a lay having a set of shifting shuttle-boxes at one end arranged with a single binder, a filling-supply adjacent to the shuttle-boxes, and means to transfer a fillingcarrier from said filling-supply into the cell of the shuttle-box then in the line of the raceway of the lay. I

38. In a loom, a lay having a set of shifting sh illitlQ-bOXGS at the receiving end of the lay, means at the opposite end to indicate the practical exhaustion of filling, and means'adjacent the set of shuttle-boxes at the filling-receiving endof the lay to transfer a filling-carrier to an active shuttle, and suitable means to feed the shuttle automatically.

39. In a loom, a lay having a set of shifting shuttle-boxes at each end thereof, a series of self-threading shuttles, a magazine located at one end of the lay and containing filling to be supplied to the shifting shuttle-boxes at that end of the lay, means cooperating with the shuttle-boxes at the opposite end of the lay to indicate the practical exhaustion of filling, a transterrer to transfer a filling-carrier from the magazine into a shuttle in the cell of the shifting shuttle-box then at the level of the race of the lay. I

40. In a loom, a lay having parallel pickerguiding rods, a picker mounted on said rods, a shifting shuttle-box with any cell of which said picker may cooperate, and means to move said picker.

41. In a loom, a fillingsupply mechanism, a lay, a series of shifting shuttle-boxes carried thereby at both ends having binders to retain the shuttle in proper position, electrical means to set the filling-supply mechanism to change the filling and to break the indication in case the boxesshift.

42. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle-box attached thereto having a binder and insulated contacts carried by the binder to electrically set a device to cause new filling to be supplied to a shuttle open back and front.

43. Ina loom, a lay, a series of shifting shuttle-boxes carried thereby, a magazine adjacent the shuttle-boxes, electrical means to set the filling-supply to change the filling and to reset the indication mechanism when the practically exhausted shuttle returns to the indicating position in line of the raceway.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RANDOLPH cRoMPTon.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. Gnneoav, JOHN G. EDWARDS. 

